Apparatus and method for controlling user interface of computing apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus including a touch sensitive user interface and a processor. The processor is configured to detect a first contact at a first position on the user interface, determine a movement of the first contact from the first position and if the movement is less than a predetermined movement threshold, when a release of the first contact is detected, move a first object on the user interface from an initial position on the user interface to an area at or near the first position. If the movement is greater than the predetermined movement threshold to identify a second position corresponding to an area near an end point of the movement and when the release of the first contact is detected, execute an action on the second position from the first object.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a user interface; 
 a processor communicatively coupled to the user interface; and 
 a memory configured to store non-transitory machine readable instructions executable by the processor to render one or more objects on the user interface; 
 wherein execution of the machine readable instructions by the processor is further configured to cause the processor to:
 detect a first contact with the user interface at a first position; 
 determine a change in position of the first contact from the first position on the user interface to a second position on the user interface; 
 determine a magnitude of the change in position; and 
 if the processor determines that the magnitude of the change in position is within a first range of values, the processor is configured to change a position of one of the one or more objects on the user interface from a current position to the first position; or 
 if the processor determines that the magnitude of the change in position is within a second range of values, the processor is configured to present a cone shaped object on the user interface with an origin that extends from the current position towards the second position and cause an execution of a function on at least one other one of the one or more objects rendered on the user interface. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the function is executed on at least one of the one or more objects at the second position. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein execution of the machine readable instructions by the processor is further configured to cause the processor to determine that the origin of the cone shaped object corresponds to the current position of the object and that an end of the cone shaped object corresponds to the second position of the first contact. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein execution of the machine readable instructions by the processor is further configured to cause the processor to determine a direction indicated by the cone shaped object and execute the function in the direction indicated. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein execution of the machine readable instructions by the processor is further configured to cause the processor to:
 detect a rotational movement on the user interface and rotate the cone shaped object corresponding to the detected rotational movement. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein execution of the machine readable instructions by the processor is further configured to cause the processor to detect a release of the rotational movement on the user interface and further execute an action instruction on at least one other object on the user interface. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein execution of the machine readable instructions by the processor is further configured to cause the processor to remove at least one other object from presentation on the user interface during execution of the function. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein execution of the machine readable instructions by the processor is further configured to cause the processor to render a control object on the user interface, the control object being configured to be rotated in one or more of a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, wherein rotation of the control object is configured to cause a corresponding rotation of the cone shaped object in the one or more of the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein execution of the machine readable instructions by the processor is further configured to cause the processor to render a trajectory line on the user interface between the current position and the second position when the magnitude of the change in position is within the second range of values. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein execution of the machine readable instructions by the processor is further configured to cause the processor to determine a second distance on the user interface between the current position and the second position when the magnitude of the change in position is determined to be within the second range of values, wherein the processor is configured to use the second distance to determine a reach of the execution of the function. 
     
     
       11. A method for controlling a user interface of a computing apparatus, the computing apparatus comprising a processor configured to execute machine readable instructions, wherein execution of the machine readable instructions by the processor causes the processor to perform the method of:
 rendering one or more objects on the user interface; 
 detecting a first contact with the user interface at a first position on the user interface; 
 determining a change in position of the first contact from the first position on the user interface to a second position on the user interface; 
 determining a magnitude of the change in position; and
 if the processor determines that the magnitude of the change in position is within a first range of values, the processor is configured to change a position of one of the one or more objects on the user interface from a current position to the first position; or 
 if the processor determines that the magnitude of the change in position is within a second range of values, the processor is configured to present a cone shaped object on the user interface with an origin that extends from the current position towards the second position and cause an execution of a function on at least one of the one or more objects rendered on the user interface. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises identifying the origin of the cone shaped object as the current position of the object and an end of the cone shaped object as the second position of the first contact. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 11 , where the method further comprises the processor determining a direction indicated by the cone shaped object and causing the execution of the function in the direction indicated. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises executing the function on at least one of the one or more objects at the second position. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises detecting a rotational movement contact on the user interface and rotating the cone shaped object corresponding to the detected rotational movement. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises detecting a release of the rotational movement contact on the user interface and further executing an action instruction on at least one other object on the user interface. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises rendering of a control object on the user interface, the control object being configured to be rotated in one or more of a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction and cause a corresponding rotation of the cone shaped object in the one or more of the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises a rendering of a trajectory line on the user interface between the current position and the second position when the magnitude of the change in position is within the second range of values. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises a determining of a second distance on the user interface between the current position and the second position when the magnitude of the change in position is determined to be within the second range of values, wherein the method includes using the second distance to determine a reach of the execution of the function. 
     
     
       20. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer readable instructions, the computer readable instructions being configured to be executed by a computing device, wherein execution of the computer readable instructions by the computing device is configured to cause the computing device to:
 render one or more objects on a user interface coupled to the computing device; 
 detect a first contact with the user interface at a first position on the user interface; 
 determine a change in position of the first contact from the first position on the user interface to a second position on the user interface; 
 determine a magnitude of the change in position; and
 if it is determined that the magnitude of the change in position is within a first range of values, change a position of one of the one or more objects on the user interface from a current position to the first position; 
 or 
 if it is determined that the magnitude of the change in position is within a second range of values, the processor is configured to present a cone shaped object on the user interface with an origin that extends from the current position towards the second position and cause an execution of a function on at least one of the one or more objects rendered on the user interface.